Dallas Franklin Billington Grave

Dallas Franklin Billington

“God is real — see how he has blessed us,” he often says. “This li’l ol’ Kentucky preacher boy made good, and all the credit goes to God.”
(TIME Magazine)

Early Life and Call to Ministry

Dallas Franklin Billington was born in 1903 in a log house in western Kentucky. Although his parents were devout Christians, Billington did not come to faith until his early adult years. At the age of 21, while attending a tent meeting in Paducah, Kentucky—invited by his fiancé, Nell Stokes—he experienced conversion. Soon thereafter, Billington moved to Akron, Ohio, seeking work in the area’s booming rubber industry. While there, a crisis with his infant son’s illness triggered something deeper in him: he vowed to preach the gospel if his child recovered. That period marked the turning point when he felt God’s calling to ministry.

In 1927 Billington formally answered that call and began preaching. His early years were marked by personal discipline and a growing reputation as a straightforward, earnest preacher. Over time he adopted the mantra, “God is Real,” which became both the theme of his preaching and the banner of his ministry.

Founding and Growth of Akron Baptist Temple

In June 1934, Billington accepted the challenge to pastor a small congregation meeting in the Rimer School in Akron, Ohio. The initial gathering numbered just 13 people and the offering that day was a mere $1.18.  Under Billington’s leadership the church—known as the Akron Baptist Temple—would grow into one of the largest independent Baptist churches in the United States.

Over a ministry spanning 38 years, the church reportedly reached membership rolls of up to 16,000 and amassed physical assets valued in the millions. Billington emphasized rapid expansion via Sunday school growth, radio broadcasts, mass-evangelistic tent meetings and mission outreach. One Time magazine article in 1962 described how the Temple had grown to a Sunday attendance of over 10,000 and its sprawling campus, featuring a mural of the Jordan River flowing into the baptismal font.

Ministry Style and Theological Emphasis

Billington’s preaching style was noted for being plain, direct and practical. He rarely employed academic language or theological abstractions; instead he spoke with the clarity of a man who believed the gospel must be personally received. His invitation at the end of sermons—calling individuals to trust in Christ—was a consistent feature.

He summed up his vision by saying: “God is real—see how he has blessed us.” In theology, Billington aligned with the conservative, independent-Baptist tradition: evangelistic urgency, biblical authority, personal salvation, and committed church life. The “tent revival” culture of his era featured large-scale meetings, high-energy preaching and a call to decisive commitment. Billington embodied that. His pastoral integrity—refusing to accept lavish vehicles, tithing his own salary—added credibility to his message.

Use of Media and Mission Outreach

Beyond the local pulpit, Billington leveraged media and missions. Early in the 1930s he began broadcasting sermons on the radio station WJW in Cleveland (“Watch Jesus Win”). Under his pastoral oversight, Akron Baptist Temple developed extensive missionary support networks—reportedly supporting some 160 missionaries in one year of the early 1960s. Thus Billington’s ministry combined local church growth, evangelistic mass meetings, radio outreach and global mission support—showing a multi-faceted strategy long before it became common in evangelical churches.

Health Challenges and Passing

Billington’s years of pastoral service were not without personal cost. He reportedly suffered heart trouble beginning in 1941 and worked through recurring health issues to maintain his ministry momentum. He passed away on August 26, 1972, at the age of 69. At his death, his legacy was already firmly established in the life of the church he founded and the wider evangelical movement.

Legacy and Impact

The legacy of Billington’s life and ministry holds in several key areas:

• Church Growth Model – From thirteen impoverished attendees to a congregation in the thousands, Akron Baptist Temple under Billington exemplified the potential of one pastor’s vision combined with disciplined effort.
• Sunday School and Sunday Attendance Emphasis – Billington made Sunday school expansion central; at one period his church claimed “the world’s largest Sunday school.”
• Media for Evangelism – Billington’s early use of radio and the emphasis on broadcasting messages made him an early adopter of mass communication in conservative evangelicalism.
• Missions Engagement – With dozens of missionaries supported, and emphasis on outreach, his church model demonstrated that local church growth and global mission support need not be mutually exclusive.
• Personal Integrity – His personal discipline, humble beginnings, and loyalty to the gospel provided a credibility that attracted many to his ministry.
• Written and Autobiographical Record – Billington published an autobiography, God Is Real: A Testament in the Form of an Autobiography (1962). The book preserved his testimony of transformation—from pool halls in Kentucky to a major pastorate—and continues to serve readers in his tradition.

Practical Lessons and Reflections

For church leaders, pastors, and Christian workers, Billington’s life suggests several practical lessons:

• Begin where you are: Billington started with 13 people and minimal resources; his story reminds us that many great ministries begin small.
• Stick with clarity and simplicity: His “plain-spoken” preaching, invitation-oriented sermons and emphasis on real-life application show the power of clear communication.
• Grow outward as you grow inward: He did not narrow his ministry to internal church concerns; Sunday school, missions, media—all advanced simultaneously.
• Lead by example: His personal discipline—continuing to tithe, refusing extravagant comforts, working through illness—gave leadership credibility.
• Leverage new opportunities: Billington’s early use of radio hinted at the need to embrace evolving media for gospel outreach; today that might mean video, social media, or new platforms.

Conclusion

Dallas Franklin Billington’s life offers a compelling chapter in the history of American evangelicalism. From his origins in rural Kentucky to the pulpit of one of the largest independent Baptist churches in Ohio, his ministry combined growth, mission, media and personal integrity. His conviction that “God is real” anchored a message of hope, salvation and service.

While the context of his era—mass tent revivals, radio dominance, large Central-U.S. church growth—is different from today, the principles he embodied remain relevant. For those who value evangelistic urgency, church growth, mission support and personal faith-filled ministry, Billington’s example still speaks. His legacy reminds us that great impact often flows from humble beginnings when combined with faithful leadership, clear communication and a heart for outreach.